Future dementia severity is almost entirely explained by the latent variable δ 's intercept and slope

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21 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Structural equation models (SEM) can explicitly distinguish dementia-relevant variance in cognitive task performance. The resulting latent construct "δ" (for dementia) provides a relatively "error free" continuously varying dementia-specific phenotype. Objective: To estimate δ's change over time (Δδ) and determine Δδ's predictive validity using future dementia status as an outcome. Methods: Data from n = 2,191 participants of the Texas Alzheimer's Research and Care Consortium (TARCC) were used to construct a latent growth curve model of longitudinal change over four years using five cognitive measures and one measure of Instrumental Activities of Daily Living. Four final latent factors, including baseline δ and Δδ, were simultaneously entered as predictors of wave 4 dementia severity, as estimated by the Clinical Dementia Rating Scale "sum of boxes" (CDR). Results: All observed measures exhibited significant change [χ2 = 1,152 (df = 229); CFI = 0.968; RMSEA= 0.043]. The final model demonstrated excellent fit to the data [χ2 = 543 (df = 245); CFI = 0.991; RMSEA= 0.023]. All latent indicator loadings were significant, yielding four distinct factors. After adjustment for demographic covariates and baseline CDR scores, d and Δd were significantly independently associated with CDR4, explaining 25% and 49% of its variance, respectively. The latent variable g' significantly explained 3% of CDR4 variance independently of d and Δd. Δg' was not significantly associated with CDR4. Baseline CDR explained 16% of CDR4 variance. Conclusions: Future dementia severity is almost entirely explained by the latent construct δ's intercept and slope.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)521-529
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Alzheimer's Disease
Volume49
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 9 2015

Keywords

  • Alzheimer's disease
  • dementia
  • latent variable
  • longitudinal

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience
  • Clinical Psychology
  • Geriatrics and Gerontology
  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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